It's interesting how the OP asks what appears to be a simple question (that know one but himself can answer since it's VERY subjective), and the thread turns into a raging battle of how slow one of the top 1% of all production cars ever made is.

Get a life people!!

To the OP... I think if you adjust your driving style for the differant drivetrain of the M3, I think you'll be fine. You just need to be a little pickier about what gear you're in.

Weird... I drove an '82 Renault R5 around town when I was 18 without any problems. You guys crack me up....

I think we should take up a collection for driving lessons. Most of these people would die driving a small displacement engine around Sao Paulo. Nothing like seeing people roll down a hill backwards because they can't get started after having to stop.

"garbage" - LOL. People are delusional. I LOVE driving my car around town...shifting is fun.

Why would you mention the hills of SP? A fellow Brazilian or have you seen a few roll-down-the-hill-backwards over there?
My 2 cent is the M3 is arguably the best all around car in production. IMO that means it will perform very well on streets, roads and tracks. It does city just great, producing better-than-symphony engine sound. It doesn't give you a whiplash at every stop light, but, on demand, she will rev like a mofo, scream like a b**ch and put a very large grin in your face. Wait, maybe that was my wife....no, it was the M3!

And I mentioned my Z06 as an example of why I feel the M3 feels gutless until you wind it out. I realize that the gearing of the DCT make the M3 feel quicker, but you cant discount the lack of torque just doing some regular, everyday driving. Compared to the torque in my Z06 and the OP E55, the M3 is gutless. period.

Dct doesn't just make it FEEL faster it makes the car significantly faster throughout the entire power band. Get off your high horse, your z06 ain't all that, after all the entire car is made from plastic, cardboard, and Elmer's glue. Loł

I used to drive 90min one way commute thru Malibu/Kanan down PCH, hence the M3's and GTR. No longer have that commute (finally!) and thinking the M3 is not the right car for me anymore, unless I get the 625charger kit.
I would rather have a bunch of torque and a more compliant (softer) ride than the M3.
So my answer to you is that it depends on where you will drive the most, and even then synch up with a fellow M3 owner and do some driving and see if you can live w/o the torque. IMO, the M3 in DCT form is so snappy and responsive on the throttle/gear changes that you are almost fooled into thinking it's torque....it's that damn good.
Less weight, and/or 75-100 more torque and lose the Comp Pkg setup (too stiff around my part of town) and it's a world class car.
Looking up link now for ESS 625....

Why would you mention the hills of SP? A fellow Brazilian or have you seen a few roll-down-the-hill-backwards over there?
My 2 cent is the M3 is arguably the best all around car in production. IMO that means it will perform very well on streets, roads and tracks. It does city just great, producing better-than-symphony engine sound. It doesn't give you a whiplash at every stop light, but, on demand, she will rev like a mofo, scream like a b**ch and put a very large grin in your face. Wait, maybe that was my wife....no, it was the M3!

Just been there and seen it first hand. Pittsburgh has bad hills also. These people that think an M3 sucks in the city would probably have a heart attack driving a littler 1 liter. Too funny.

IMO, the M3 in DCT form is so snappy and responsive on the throttle/gear changes that you are almost fooled into thinking it's torque....it's that damn good.

I am not sure you actually understand that in reality, that's actually torque. Real torque.

Peak torque at the crank is a useless number without knowing the gearing, curve, and rev range. The DCT will accelerate faster simply because it has more gears, swaps them faster and so will manage to put more torque at the wheels more of the time. It's pretty basic math and physics.

OP, I bet although the E55 is faster in a straight line, the m3 driven well will hang in there remarkably well. The point being that you do have to pay attention to what gear you are in the M3, whereas you can adopt a very lazy driving style in the Benz.

The M3 is a more engaging car partly because it requires - and rewards - this level of driver interaction. If you fear this, then there's no point in getting an M3, it will be a miserable experience. If you want it on the other hand, then you will love the M and never look back.

I do understand...but you should know the M3 is very low on real torque vs the OP's noted AMG, hence the relative comparison.
There's no sub for torque, but the DCT does a dang nice job of making you FEEL like there is more.

Quote:

Originally Posted by adc

I am not sure you actually understand that in reality, that's actually torque. Real torque.

Peak torque at the crank is a useless number without knowing the gearing, curve, and rev range. The DCT will accelerate faster simply because it has more gears, swaps them faster and so will manage to put more torque at the wheels more of the time. It's pretty basic math and physics.

OP, I bet although the E55 is faster in a straight line, the m3 driven well will hang in there remarkably well. The point being that you do have to pay attention to what gear you are in the M3, whereas you can adopt a very lazy driving style in the Benz.

The M3 is a more engaging car partly because it requires - and rewards - this level of driver interaction. If you fear this, then there's no point in getting an M3, it will be a miserable experience. If you want it on the other hand, then you will love the M and never look back.

I do understand...but you should know the M3 is very low on real torque vs the OP's noted AMG, hence the relative comparison.
There's no sub for torque, but the DCT does a dang nice job of making you FEEL like there is more.

I think you completely missed my point. Torque at the crank means absolutely nothing, torque at the wheels is everything, so that's where gearing comes into play.

There is a thread sticky at the top that perhaps explains it a little bit better, I urge you to read it.

Guilty, but I have car A.D.D. so I'm on almost every car forum... for a while.

Make the switch, you will get to used to the lower torque. I went from the E55 to an E90 335i and I was planning on keeping that for at least 2 years, but then I test drove an M3 and after the first run to redline in 3rd, it was hook, line and sinker.

OP - it says in your post that you are interested in a race car feel in your post - well a motorsport inspired V8 revving to 8400rpm is about as good as it gets, throw in the perfect balance and handling and the M3 fits the bill perfectly. As for all the posts about 'city driving' - i just don't get it.......the city is a place i drive through to get to the real roads where i can enjoy a car to the full. Who cares about driving through the city

OP, I feel like your original question was already answered. So, in addition to your question here is why you buy the M3:

1. Awesome BMW M community & great events (meets, rallys, etc).. IMO best out there for enthusiasts. I've made some really good buddies through owning this car and being on these forums
2. You don't buy this car for the chicks. Will you get chicks in this car? Sure. You will actually get more looks/thumbs up from dudes than chicks. If you're looking to land chicks, its all about your attitude and your game, not about what car you drive. Most girls can't tell the difference between an M, 328, 535, C63, VW, Ford, blah blah blah and a rocket ship. They do however know what a Prius is lol
3. Fun. This car is all around fun to drive. Period.

If you're looking for a car with "torque", which in my opinion means one that is overpowered and will eventually cause you to spin out and wind up pinned against a car on the opposite side of the road if you're not careful, then get a z06, GT-R, Mustang GT, etc etc (no offense to those who own those cars, I think they're all badass). Anyway, good luck and interested to see which direction you go!